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Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Price of Politics: Applauding Fred

It's great to say, "I saw a first today." Today, I did. Fred Thompsonhad just finished his stump speech at "Tremont on Main", a restaurantin downtown Marshalltown. Yes, it's on Main Street. No one in thecrowd of about 60 was clapping (well, what was left of the crowd.About 10 or so of them had taken off already.) So Thompson tookmatters in his own hands. I've never heard a presidential candidate dothis. But after hearing the silence, Thompson said to the crowd,"First of all, could I have a round of applause?" Polite applause thenfollowed. He thanked them and added he "had to drag it" out of them.